Xiaomi Mi Note 3 Review

At the autumn conference on September 11, Xiaomi released the latest flagship Mix 2, a full screen mobile phone evolved to version 2.0. Also released with this phone are Xiaomi Mi Note 3, but with the previous two generations of Note series, The Mi Note 3 came a 180-degree shift. It is the first Mi Note series that does not use the current flagship processor (Not SD 835).

As a former flagship, as the same stage with Xiaomi MIX 2 appearance, Xiaomi Note 3 seems a bit embarrassed. But in fact Mi Note 3 itself is not coincidental nor related with Mix 2, it focuses zoom dual camera, front beauty self portrait, beautiful four surface body, and is the first mobile phone to support face unlock. From Xiaomi Note 3, we can see that Xaiomi has made some adjustments in the strategic direction.

Since the new retail strategy, Xiaomi has launched two new retail plans in more than a month: the Xiaomi 5X and the Redmi Note 5A. This time release of the Xiaomi Note 3 really let Xiaomi have a suitable product with OPPO and vivo confrontation. Although not as dazzling like Xiaomi MIX 2, Mi Note 3 is equally significant for Xiaomi.

Put aside the above mentioned, return to the product. This review, we mainly take a look at how about the Xiaomi Note 3 in performance of the camera?

Xiaomi Note 3 uses a 5.5-inch 1080P screen, equipped with a Snapdragon 660 processor, 6GB of large memory, optional 64GB / 128GB storage, battery capacity of 3400mAh, with 12MP dual camera and 16MP front camera. Overall, the price of 2,499 yuan ($339.99 at GearBest), the Xiaomi Note 3 can be very balanced, it is no longer the kind of performance of the previous monster, but more like a more understanding of consumer demand for popular products.

As mentioned earlier, the Xiaomi Note 3 is the first Note series cellphone that is not equipped with the current flagship processor. This has attracted a lot of meager comments, especially for those who have been following Xiaomi for a long time. Now let’s briefly talk about the Snapdragon 660 and give the Xiaomi Note 3 a simple performance test to see exactly what it’s actually doing.

Snapdragon 660 is the star product of Qualcomm midrange processor, using 14nm process and Kryo 260 architecture, integrated Adreno 512 and Snapdragon X12 LTE modem, the Snapdragon 600 series SoC for the first time supports 600Mbps peak downlink data rate, Supports HVX based on the entire DSP processing, as well as the Snapdragon neural processing engine SDK, which are the only technology used before the Snapdragon 820/821 top chip.

Benefit from the latest technology and architecture, Snapdragon 660’s performance was over off Snapdragon 652/653, but the basic heat and power consumption and Snapdragon 625/626 flat, which is also the performance of the most recent Qualcomm energy than the most prominent processor. For the terminal, the performance can be used, but also have the power saving advantage.

Xiaimi Note 3 test scores in the Antutu is 108160, can be used as a reference, Kirin 960, Snapdragon 821 score at 128000 points or so. In other words, the performance of Snapdragon 660 enough generation of flagship. It’s good enough for most people, whether it is for everyday use or for gaming.

Design- Four curved glass body

Xiaomi Note 3 can be seen as a larger version of Xiaomi Mi 6, using four curved glass body. But the difference is that Mi Note 3’s frame changed to 7 Series aluminum alloy material.

On the front of the phone, Xiaomi Note 3 uses a 5.5-inch screen, with 2.5D glass, narrow bezel, which are the current mainstream design. But still it will feel a little amazing, it is the body color. Bright blue version of the front panel is also blue, quite personal, highlights a certain difference.

The bottom of the front uses a non-porous fingerprinting solution from HuiDing Tech Company. Non-porous fingerprinting scheme first appeared in the Xiaomi 5S, but because of the immature ultrasonic fingerprint identification scheme, there is a defect in the recognition speed. Xiaomi Note 3 uses a more sophisticated capacitive fingerprinting scheme that excels at speed and accuracy.

Back of the phone, this is Xiaomi Note 3 most stunning part. Four full-scale design of the body back mellow, and when the grip can fit the palm curve as far as possible. In short, it is “look good, hold comfortable.”

Although it is a larger version of Xiaomi mi 6, but in appearance, Xiaomi Note 3 is not just magnified so simple. Its fuselage frame for the 7 series aluminum alloy, easier to mass production, lighter. This is particularly important for 5.5-inch large-screen phones. Like Mi 6, Mi Note 3 canceled the 3.5mm headphone jack. its thickness of 7.6mm, 5.5 inches in the phone also appears extremely thin.

Xiaomi Note 3 Portrait mode shooting distance is recommended within 2 meters. We can see that the effect of bokeh is very obvious, so that the main shooting outstanding. Moreover, the actual situation of the actual situation, observe the details of hair and other characters, there is no obvious traces of smear. Screen brightness, color exposure control accuracy. Unlike the normal mode, portrait mode photos need to be processed by the algorithm, press the shutter button to take a short time to wait for image generation. Xiaomi Note 3 processing speed is satisfactory, there will be no procrastination feeling.

Xiaomi Note 3 Photo

OnePlus 5 Photo

Of course, the portrait mode is not only suitable for shooting people. Natural bokeh effect can make the picture in a more general sense of hierarchy.

Xiaomi Note 3 Photo

OnePlus 5 Photo

Xiaomi Note 3’s vice camera is a 12-megapixel telephoto lens that supports 2x optical zoom. Keep the pixels in a farther position with no loss of pixels, leaving more detail.

However, it should be pointed out that although the primary and secondary cameras have the same number of pixels, they are not exactly the same. The main camera aperture f / 1.8, equipped with a 4-axis optical image stabilization, while the sub-camera aperture f / 2.6. The picture taken in 2x optical zoom mode is done with a sub-camera. Although the number of pixels per unit area required for shooting is higher, the detail is sharper. But the picture quality is inferior to the main camera, reflected in the brightness, color and picture level and many other aspects. Therefore, 2X optical zoom can only be used as part of the extreme scene mode, the necessary addition.

Xiaomi Note 3 Photo

OnePlus 5 Photo

The Xiaomi Note 3’s main camera has reached f / 1.8 aperture, has been able to ensure sufficient amount of light, dual-camera combination to make the amount of light into the more adequate. Larger amount of light in the screen to ensure the brightness of the case, reduce the ISO, so the picture is more pure, better picture quality. And to provide greater space for future algorithms to optimize.

Turn on the flash – Mi Note 3

Turn on the flash – OnePlus 5

Xiaomi Note 3 dark environment sample picture pure, high brightness. And well preserved the details of the screen, light and dark transitions naturally, the picture is extremely rich, there is a strong sense of three-dimensional.

16MP front camera self-proofing proofs

Xiaomi Note 3 front camera for the 16 million pixels, providing beauty 4.0, countdown Selfie, mirror, photo and many other features. The following is a self portrait.

Open the beauty mode

Not Open the beauty mode

Xiaomi Note 3 beauty Selfie effect real, natural, there is no sign of excessive smearing and retouching. This is because it is equipped with the latest AI beauty algorithm will be smart partition skin, for different facial areas using different skin beauty strategy. And it will also self-timer object based on the color correction and brightening, eye, lip color, etc. targeted optimization.

Face unlocked

This is the first mobile phone to support face unlocking of Xiaomi. When the screen is locked, the screen lights up and the screen looks like a selfie. The phone recognizes the facial features of the user and matches the facial data that has been entered. “The way you look at the phone unlocks it” is cool and easy. Its strength is that it is also handy to unlock your cellphone when wearing gloves or wet hands in winter.

However, it also has inconvenient places. In low light conditions, can not be accurately identified, like the same fingerprint can not be on standby for your service.

After a simple experience, the facial information entry and identification process is fast. “Take a look at the phone to unlock” approach, but also very convenient. And we also tried to fool Xiaomi Note 3 face recognition with photos, many attempts failed, security is also guaranteed.

Elsewhere, Xiaomi Note 3 runs the latest MIUI 9 system. MIUI 9 focused on the system’s underlying code has made major optimization adjustments, a substantial increase in fluency, stability and power consumption performance. The newly joined the portal, information assistant, quickly find the three photos of the photo also truly achieve a one-step direct access to use more intimate.

Summary

Xiaomi Note 3 is a heavyweight product under the new strategy for offline market placement. Although it does not have the same flagship processor as the previous Xiaomi Note series phones in terms of hardware performance, the overall hardware performance of the Xiaomi Note 3 is quite adequate for most users with its Snapdragon 660 platform. Whether it is used daily or game scenarios, can ensure a smooth enough experience.

Moreover, in its main focus of the dual camera shoot, beauty Selfie, the actual performance of the Xiaomi Note 3 is really remarkable. Portrait mode bokeh is obvious, natural. 2x optical zoom can also be used to deal with some extreme shooting scenes. The overall imaging quality is completely flagship level.

Where to buy

I highly recommend going to Gearbest for purchase Xiaomi Note 3, because it is one of the best and cheapest shopping mall!

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CONCLUSION

At first intimidated by the processor downgrade, I could hardly imagine that the Mi Note 3 can compete with the high-end squad. But after 2 weeks with the piece of jewelry it looks a bit different. The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 is just as well made as the little brother. However, it is easier and I really liked that in practice. The sufficiently large 5.5 inch display also convinces in all respects. When it comes to performance, you do not have to do without anything in practice. The Mi Note 3 is slower than the SD821 or SD835 smartphones out there, but in practice this does not really bother us, as the Mi Note 3 is still an arrow-fast device.